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Patented July 6, 1880.

T. W. FREEBORN 8: Z. CHASE. Poldlng Stand (No Model.)

joint with the tops of the legs and UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS W. FREEBORN AND ZAOOHEUS CHASE, OF NEWPORT, R. I.

FOLDING STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,600, dated July 6, 1880.

Application filed March 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS W. FREE- BORN and ZACCHEUS OHAsE, both of Newport, State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Stands, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The folding stands or tables to which this invention relates are designed especially for supporting butlers trays, but may be used as flower-stands, as a writing table or desk, or for other desired purpose.

The ordinary butlers stand consists of two pairs of crossed legs hinged together and having the tops connected by bands of woven or other flexible material.

In this invention the top of the stand folds in the middle, but is rigid when in use, like an ordinary table.

Heretofore folding tables have been made in various ways, which it is unnecessary here to describe.

The object of this invention is to make a light, compact, simple, neat, and convenient stand, perfectly adapted to the purpose designed.

The stand consists of two pairs of crossed legs pivoted to each other in the well-known manner, as in a camp-stool or an ordinary butlers stand, a table or top made in two parts and provided with handles on opposite sides of the line between the two parts of the top, and two jointed arms connectedby a hingesupporting the table. The jointed arms resemble a pair of toggle-levers in their action. They fold upward in the center. Motion below a horizontal plane is prevented by the meeting of the edges of the two parts of the top, and also by the contact with the opposite sides of the top of the ends of the jointed supporting-arms. Suitable pins or shoulders might also be used, if desired, in addition. The stand can be folded or opened by one motion of the arm of the butler.

In order that the stand can be the more readily folded and carried away when desired, the handles for the top are formed by cutting suitably shaped openings in each half of the said top, near the dividing-line. With one hand these handles can be grasped and the stand instantaneously folded and carried away. To more fully explain the invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is an isometric perspective view of the stand opened for supporting the butlers tray, which is indicated in dotted lines; and Fig. 2, a similar view of the stand folded.

The same letters indicate like parts on both the figures.

A A represent the two halves of the top. Near the dividing-line openings are made, so as to leave a small portion or strip, B, on each side.

0 represents the crossed legs, pivoted to each other at c, and connected by cross-bars D. To the upper part of the legs are connected the two pairs of jointed arms E E. These arms are hinged at e to the legs, and are jointed to each other at e. The two parts of the table or top are attached to the upper side of these arms, one part to the arms E and the other to the arms E, so that when the stand is open and the top is flat the adjacent edges-meet and effectually prevent the center of the stand from sinking in when weighted.

Contact of the parts of the top with the ends of the opposite jointed supporting-arms also aids in preventing the sinking of the table in the center.

It will be readily seen that, owing to the crossed legs and the disposition of the top and its supporting-arms, the stability is increased by the weight'of the tray or other articles.

If desired, pins could be placed, or shoulders or projections formed, on or near the connected ends of each pair of arms E E, or on the legs, so as to prevent their depression below the proper level.

Although the stand is specially adapted and designed for use in connection with a butlers tray, yet it maybe, as already stated, applied to other purposes.

Having thus fully described our said invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A folding legs piv hinged as to he is folded,an openings on 0 the two for the purpose described to the upper two-part to stand consisting of the crossed oted to each other, the jointed arms part of said legs, and the attached to the jointed arms, so elevated in the center when the stand 1 provided with handles formed by pposite sides of the line between of the top, substantially as and specification i Witnesses parts In testimon EDWARD FLOYD CR DARIUS BAKER.

y whereof we have signed this :0 n the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS W. FREEBORN. ZACHEUS CHASE.

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